Construction workers employed at the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire have secured a major increase in bonus payments following industrial action.

Big bonus increase

The deal covers over 450 construction workers operating under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), who work for several different contractors at the site.

Strike action was due to begin on Tuesday 18 July, but was swiftly called off after employers agreed to fresh talks on the bonus rate. Following these negotiations, the hourly bonus rate was increased from 80 pence an hour to the maximum £2.37 an hour, an increase in bonus payments of just under 300 per cent.

Excellent result 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result which was achieved by workers coming together and maintaining a unified front. Unite had been clear from the outset that the employers and the client could fully afford to increase the bonus payment and that proved to be entirely the case.

“This victory at Stanlow further demonstrates how Unite’s relentless commitment to jobs, pay and conditions is delivering genuine financial benefits for workers in engineering construction.”

UK campaign

The Stanlow dispute over bonus rates is the latest affecting workers covered by the NAECI agreement, who have taken industrial action at sites throughout the UK. Workers have been campaigning to increase pay to offset rampant inflation, following the refusal of employers nationally to increase basic wage rates.

Unified workforce

Unite regional officer Lee Brennan said: “This pay victory could not have been achieved without the hard work and commitment of Unite’s stewards and reps who despite working for different employers were able to come together in unity. This forced the employers to return to the negotiating table and make a vastly improved offer.”

The GMB union was also involved in the dispute.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Major disruption at Stanlow oil refinery as 300 workers strike over pay 

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.